BIOS 433 Plant Diversity and Conservation
UIC Spring 2004

Plant Orders and Families Covered in BioS 433

Larger group Order Family Subfamily Symmetry Perianth Andro. Gyno. Fruit Other Example species
Basal
dicots
Magnoliids Magnoliales Magnoliaceae   actino 3-merous tepals, spirally arranged many, spiral sup, apo, many, spiral agg. follicle elongated receptacle Magnolia
  Laurales Lauraceae   actino 6 tepals 9, adnate, open by 4 flaps sup, 1   staminodes Laurus, Persea
Monocots   Liliales (sensu stricto) Liliaceae   actino 6 tepals, often spotted 6, extrorse sup, 3 carpels, syn     Lilium, Tulipa
  Asparagales Amaryllidaceae   actino 6 tepals, connate at base.  perianth tube=corona in Narcissus. 6, adnate inf, 3 carpels, syn     Amaryllis, Narcissus
    Iridaceae   actino 6 tepals, connate at base, or 3+3 tepals 3, adnate inf, 3 carpels, syn loc. capsule style branches in Iris.  2-ranked leaves, equitant leaves Iris, Freesia, Crocus
    Orchidaceae Cypripedioideae zygo 6 tepals, including labellum Adnate into column or gynostegium.  2 stamens, granular pollen; inf ovary syn w/3 carpels capsule 180-deg. ovary twist (resupinate).  dust-like seeds, no endosperm.  Rostellum, viscidium.  
    Orchidaceae Orchidoideae zygo 6 tepals, including labellum Adnate into column or gynostegium.  1 stamen, pollinia; inf ovary syn w/3 carpels capsule 180-deg. ovary twist (resupinate).  dust-like seeds, no endosperm.  Rostellum, viscidium. Dendrobium, Phaelenopsis
Commelinoids Poales Poaceae   zygo 1-3 tiny lodicules 1-3 sup, 2-3 carpels, syn caryopsis glumes, lemma, palea.  2-ranked leaves, round hollow stem, jointed nodes.  Flowers=florets, inflors=spikelets.  
Eudicots Basal eudicots Ranunculales Ranunculaceae   actino or zygo 4-5-merous petaloid sepals, petals may be lacking ~12, spiral sup, apo, 5-many, spiral agg. follicle or agg. achene elongated receptacle.  Petals may be spurred. Clematis, Aconitum, Aquilegia, Delphinium, Cimicifuga
    Berberidaceae   actino S: 4 or 6; P: 4 or 6 4-18, us. 6, open by 2 flaps sup, 1 berry paired or single staminodes=nectaries Berberis, Caudophyllum
Basal rosids Saxifragales Crassulaceae   actino S: 4-5; P: 4-5, often connate = num. petals or 2x num. petals sup, 4-5 carpels, apo or slightly connate agg. follicle each carpel subtended by scale-like nectary.  flat receptacle; cymose; succulent. Kalanchoe, Sedum
    Hamamelidaceae   actino S,P: 4-5 4-5, open by 2 flaps, alternate w/petals inf or semi-inf, 2 carpels, syn capsule stellate hairs; staminodes between stamens Hamamelis
Eurosids I Malpighiales Violaceae   zygo S: 5; P: 5, one spurred 5, connivent to ovary, lower one(s) spurred sup, 3 carpels, syn; parietal capsule nectaries in spur, attached to stamens Viola, Hybanthus
  Fabales Fabaceae Mimosoideae actino S: 5, connate; P: 5, distinct or connate 10-many, showy sup, 1 carpel; marginal legume/loment   Mimosa, Acacia, Albitzia
    Fabaceae Caesalpinioideae zygo S: 5, variously connate; P: 5, distinct, banner inside wings 10 sup, 1 carpel; marginal legume/loment   Cercis, Cassia
    Fabaceae Faboideae zygo S: 5, connate; P: 5, distinct or keel fused, banner outside wings 9+1, diadelphous, or 10, monadelphous sup, 1 carpel; marginal legume/loment   Robinia, Trifolium
  Rosales Rosaceae Amygdaloideae (=Prunoideae) actino S: 5, P: 5, hypanthium 10+ sup, 1 carpel; marginal drupe   Prunus
    Rosaceae Rosoideae actino S: 5, P: 5, sometimes constricted hypanthium 10+ sup, many, apo; marginal achenes, agg. drupes; sometimes accessory fruits (hypanthium or receptacle) Can have elongated receptacle Fragaria, Rubus, Rosa, Geum
    Rosaceae Spiraeoideae actino S: 5, P: 5, hypanthium 10+ sup, 2-5 carpels, apo;  marginal dehiscent follicles or capsules   Spiraea
    Rosaceae Maloideae actino S: 5, P: 5, hypanthium 10+ inf, 2-5 carpels, syn; axillary pome   Malus
Eurosids II Brassicales Brassicaceae Brassicoideae actino S: 4, P: 4 - cruciform 4 long 2 short (tetradynamous) sup, 2 carpels, syn; silicle or silique   Brassica, Lobularia
  Malvales Malvaceae Malvoideae actino S: 5, connate; P: 5 Many, fused into a tube (monadelphous) sup, +/- 12 carpels, syn; capsule   Malva, Hibiscus
  Sapindales Sapindaceae Aceroideae zygo S: 5, connate; P: 5, connate, tiny 8 sup, 2 carpels, syn; primordial samaras samara or samaroid schizocarp Mix of male, female, and perfect flowers on each plant.  Nectar disk. Acer
Basal asterids Cornales Cornaceae   actino S: 4-5, P: 4-5 4-10 inf, 2-3 carpels, syn; axillary drupe Cyme or umbel subtended by 4 showy bracts.  Nectar disk.  T-shaped hairs. Cornus, Nyssa
  Ericales Ericaceae   actino S: 4-5; P: 4-5, connate, often urn-shaped 8-10; anthers open by apical pores sup or inf, 2-10 carpels, syn; axillary Superior ovary (Rhododendron) becomes capsule, inferior (Vaccinium) becomes berry Sometimes epiphytic Rhododendron, Vaccinium
    Polemoniaceae   actino S: 5, connate; P: 5, connate, often floral tube 5, epipetalous sup, 3 carpels, syn; axillary Capsule Nectaries Phlox, Gilia, Polemonium
Euasterids I Solanales Solanaceae   actino S: 5, connate; P: 5, connate 5, epipetalous, connivent sup, 2-5 carpels, syn; axillary Berry   Solanum, Nicotiana, Capsicum, Datura, Petunia, Physalis
    Convolvulaceae   actino S: 5; P: 5, connate, often funnel-like 5, epipetalous sup, 2 carpels, syn; axillary Capsule Nectar disk.  T-shaped stigma. Ipomoea, Convolvulus
  Lamiales Oleaceae   actino S: 4, connate; P: 5, connate 2, epipetalous, anthers sometimes fused sup, 2 carpels, syn; axillary Capsule, samara, or drupe Nectar disk Forsythia, Olea, Fraxinus, Syringa
    Scrophulariaceae   zygo S: 3-5, connate; P: 4-5, connate, bilabiate 2, 4, or 5, epipetalous sup, 2 carpels, syn; axillary Capsule Nectar disk Antirrhinum, Verbascum, Penstemon
    Lamiaceae (=Labiate)   zygo S: 5, connate; P: 5, connate, bilabiate 4 or 2+2 (didynamous), epipetalous sup, 2 carpels, syn; axillary, often 4-lobed Drupe/nutlet Nectar disk.  Stems square.  Hairs glandular with essential oils.  Leaves often whorled. Nepeta, Mentha, Salvia, Monarda, Lavendula, Thymus
Euasterids II Asterales Asteraceae   ligulate: zygo; disc: actino S: modified into pappus; P: 5.  Ligulate connate as strap, disc connate as tube 5, epipetalous, anthers syngenesious inf, 2 carpels, syn; basal Achene Inflorescence is a "head".  Can be discoid, ligulate, or radiate (both).  Infl. subtended by phyllaries (bracts). Aster, Helianthus, Cirsium, Liatris